Oops, a little bit of a late post for a Friday night, but I just discovered iMovie! (Sort of like that saying ‘if you want to waste 2 hours, go on your laptop for 5 minutes’:))

I immediately had a moment of inspiration!

This turned into hours of scrolling my phone for video footage of Tanya’s 2.0 under construction (while baby slept today), which turned into hours of working out iMovie (while making baby’s meals), which then turned into hours of pasting the clips and pics together (while feeding baby those snacks- so many, she couldn’t believe her luck today!), which turned into hours of making it all flow with music (after putting her to bed)…

And now, it’s 11:11pm.

Not even kidding- the time on my phone as I type this!!!

Anyway, I really wanted to update you on how the remodel is going. And here is that video that just went up on YouTube now>>

If you wish to: 1) complement me on my iMovie editing skills, leave a comment on there, or 2) get expert advice on using iMovie, just ask the question in the comments.

When you see the last image in the video, try to imagine that the coverings are off the floor to reveal the most gorgeous wood, the sheeting is peeled away from the bar to reveal a brass design and everything is dusted and polished.

Or just come to our workshop tomorrow and see it all for yourself! You will be the very very first to get a proper sneak peek.

The retail space is still weeks from being ready to open, but our guest from Australia is so special, we had to make the conservatory available especially for his workshop. Pana (THE Pana of Pana Chocolate) is in London to launch his incredible book and we have 2 spots left on tomorrow’s class, happening 3-5pm).

Read more details on the blog, here>> or go straight to EventBrite to book your spot, here>>
Happy Weekend!

I. Have. Something. Pretty BIG to tell you!

Tanya’s opened its doors to the public after a mini soft opening on 28th July 2014. It was the sunniest of all sunny days, we had more people through the doors than anticipated and managed to run out of ALL the food.

Yep, it’s true! Someone travelled for 3 hours to us on a train, only to discover that our kitchen wasn’t serving any more dishes and asked if we could scrape out any remains.

We’ve had days when we’d run out of raw carrot cake and one table would strike a deal with another to leave them a forkful. We’ve had days with queues of people stretching outside. Some were willing to eat standing! We’ve had 18-hour-work days. We’ve had juice-exploding-all-over-the-ceiling days, chocolate-melting-all-over-the-counter days, bring-your-baby-to-work days (and work-with-that-baby-strapped-to-you days) and even chef-wearing-six-inch-heels days. We’ve had days when Tanya’s was on a billboard at Knightsbridge station.

There were so many days of Tanya’s. 818 to be exact.

I wouldn’t even change one of them! After all, it is my calling to spread the message of living foods and all I’ve ever done, which truly mattered, has been because YOU asked for it.

-You asked for 1-2-1 coaching so I personalised my workshops.
-When all of your friends wanted a detox plan of their own, PDF docs were created.
-This, in turn, birthed my first eBook ‘Purified’.
-You said you lived too far away for my classes, ‘Raw Food 101’ DVD was the answer.
-Retreats were developed for those keen to live and breathe this lifestyle for a week.
-More recipes and hot tips called for ‘The Uncook Book’ to be written.
-You wanted to enjoy those recipes with a day off from the kitchen, Tanya’s cafe in Chelsea was created.

Today, after 818 days of being in operation, after a pop-up at a fitness centre and a pop-up at Selfridges, after countless events, bespoke raw cake orders, Opentable bookings, deliveries and take aways, and after the ‘Made in Chelsea’ plus ‘The Apprentice’ appearance, we know exactly what You’re after next…

You want Tanya’s cakes, juices and adventure bowls, but you want them EVEN faster and in MORE locations.

And so it shall be!

We are transforming from Tanya’s restaurant as you know it into a Tanya’s Grab’n’Go Retail shop as you want it to be.

-This will also enable us to be open more hours in the day and operate 7 days per week.
-Our expanded production capacity will mean we can finally start saying YES to other cafes and shops wanting to stock our products.
-And we’ll be joining forces with MY Kitchen, which means that if your non-vegan friends wanted to join you for lunch… all aboard!
-TanyasCafe.com plus BetterRaw.com will merge into one delicious online wellness hub.
-Aaaand our ‘Deliveroo’ home delivery menu will have more of your favourites!
-Aaaand you can expect to see me running uncookery workshops again!

In order for all of this to work, the entire ground zone of MY Chelsea hotel will need to be remodelled. This means our last day of operation will be Sunday 6th November to reopen again in Spring 2017!

There is soooo much more I want to tell you, so I’ll be keeping you in the loop via social media, even during construction.

Now, with only TWO weeks till 6th November, we’ll be running daily in-store promotions (think take-home Superfoods, free raw treats, 2 for 1 cocktails, etc), so keep an eye on Instagram (@tanyaschelsea) for all the detail.

When Sunday 6th itself rolls around, you can pop in for brunch as per usual or you can pop in for our SALE!…

I’m doing a big clear out, so everything from ingredients to equipment to supper club dishes to office stationary, will be on sale.

See you there!
xTanya

As you might know, we offer our Alkaline Cleanse packages only three months per year. Since we put a limit to how many we're able to offer, they usually sell out pretty quickly.

We send these detoxes all across the UK, which is amazing as we are now able to produce more than just enough to service London.

But, I still receive messages from many of you not residing in the UK as well as requests for tips from those that can't afford my Alkaline Cleanse, so I decided to take a day to document what the detox involves, what ingredients we put into it and how I recommend everything to be taken, so you can do your own cleanse at home :)

Here we go...

Today, I'm doing my own #AlkalineDetox #TanyasCleanse. FUN!

'Fun', because not only have I done it before but I designed it my way. I've tried many juice cleanses and noticed that long term they weren't right for me. I needed some solids to make it through; and because I felt so lethargic and starved, I noticed the pH of my body going from slightly acidic to very acidic! I played around with food combinations, added probiotics, fibre, more chlorophyll, calcium and other nutrients and minerals to the mix, spaced out all the 'snacks' strategically and BAM!... Alkaline result!

My alkaline cleanse comes complete with your own set of pH Strips so you can also monitor your own #AcidAlkaline levels through the day (or buy your own litmus paper from a Pharmacy). 💚

[7:30AM] SPICY CHIA

Here is my first 'meal' of the day on #TanyasCleanse #AlkalineDetox. I say 'meal' because it is complete nutritionally. The chia provides protein and cleansing fibre, the lime is the most alkalising food of all and the cayenne is there to fire up your digestion.

If chewing it, you'll receive extra benefits- this meal will be able to mix with your saliva, which is the first step of digestion within your system.

[9:00AM] ALKALISER JUICE & PROBIOTICS

This is our signature organic cold-pressed juice at Tanya's. It's made of kale, spinach, cucumber, lemon & green apple. Greens contain high levels of alkaline minerals, including magnesium & calcium, but they won't digest well if the juice is gulped down. Sip slowly & focus on it making you shine from within.

Either empty the OptiBac probiotic sachet into the juice or dilute in water to have as a shot, but try to have the probiotics at the same time as sipping on the juice. Optibac offer an amazing line of live cultures for every one of your needs & this one in particular is 'for a flat stomach', because it helps against bloating during the cleanse. I recommend taking probiotics every single day for healthy intestinal flora. 💚

[10:00AM] DETOX DUST SEEDS

Enjoyed crunching on these super delicious activated sunflower, sesame and pumpkin seeds. They have been soaked to make them easier on the digestion, then sprouted to boost the nutrient value and their pH, then coated in spices which promote detoxification (cinnamon, ginger, cardamom, rosemary, turmeric, cumin, cayenne, pink salt) while strengthening the immune system. Finally they’ve been dehydrated below 47degrees C to keep them raw and full of enzymes.

Please chew lots and do not mix these seeds with any liquid. If you are thirsty, let them digest first, then drink after 30 minutes. 💚

[12:00 PM] DOCTOR JUICE

This organic cold-pressed juice contains beetroot, carrots, celery, green apple, lemon and ginger. The root vegetables are helping to keep me grounded and balanced, while lowering the discomfort of toxin release from my body during my #AlkalineDetox #TanyasCleanse today. The antioxidants and electrolytes within the juice will provide you with energy and mental focus, while looking after your immune system too!

[2:00 PM] KALE WHEATGRASS CRACKERS

These crackers are packed with fibre to scrub your insides clean. They contain sprouted oats (all gluten free), hulled flaxseeds, chia seeds, kale, sunflower seeds, ginger, cracked pepper, pink salt and lots of wheatgrass powder.

Please do not flush them down with any liquids, chew them slowly on their own. Your body is designed to provide you with enough fluids for ideal digestion and it is possible to restore this memory within it in as little as three meals. Solids are not to be eaten with liquids and you will get great health benefits following this alkalising principle. 💚

[4:00 PM] VISION JUICE

This organic cold-pressed juice is the healthiest afternoon treat. It contains organic carrot, orange, mango and fresh turmeric root. The anti-inflammatory properties within the juice will help settle any bloating or joint issues, while the sweetness from the fruit will take care of unhealthy cravings in a healthy way.

Although citrus fruits are often mistaken for being acid, they actually leave an alkaline ash in your body after they are burned into energy. That’s true only and specifically for cold-pressed, non-processed and non-pasteurized juices, like the organic hand-squeezed juice I had at 4pm during #AlkalineDetox #TanyasCleanse.

Try sipping yours with closed eyes and visualise how your cells are waking up and guiding the acids to leave your system. 💚

[6:00 PM] ALKALINE SOUP 💚

This soup contains whole blended vegetables for you to get all the fibre. It, like the entire #TanyasCleanse, is also free from nuts and mushrooms, which can be acidifying for the body.

I prefer a warm soup, but would like to keep it raw, so I simply transfer mine into a bowl and add boiling water, then stir. As you are not microwaving it or keeping it over a burning stove, this won’t ‘cook’ the soup or kill any enzymes.

Ingredients: cucumber, spinach, celery, lemon, mint, peas, avocado, basil, mixed herbs, cumin, pepper, pink salt.

[7:00PM] VEGGIE STICKS & TURMERIC TAHINI DIP

Crunching on raw vegetables has been found to release serotonin and aid digestion. That’s an ideal combination for boosting your body’s pH also. Sesame seeds provide the highest form of calcium, which together with the lemon are the most alkaline way to end your day. The turmeric is high in anti-inflammatory properties, perfect for calming any uncomfortable toxin release.

Remember to chew plenty and enjoy every bite consciously. Ingredients: carrots, celery, raw tahini, lemon, cayenne, pepper, pink salt.

(I decided on a change of scenery and came out into the My Chelsea reception to have my dinner and just look at what I discovered in their guest book above!)

[ALL DAY] GREEN COMPLEX POWDER

This 1 litre bottle includes 10g of Neal's Yard Remedies Green Complex Powder. Inside is a mix of spirulina, spinach, parsley, chlorella, seagreens ascophyllum nodosum, barley grass, wheat grass, green tea extract, acerola cherry extract (on manioc maltodextrin), oat grass.

I simply add filtered water, shake shake shake and sip on it through the day while on the #TanyasCleanse. I also recommend that when you take a sip, imagine it flowing to your cells and purifying them, while you say ‘I love and respect every cell of my body. Being healthy is my divine right’.

So there you have it!

As you can see just a 1 Day Package includes more nutrients and minerals than many of us get in a whole week, but if you are after a nice internal scrub, glowing skin, weight-loss, mega energy boost, flatter stomach and serious improvement in your digestion, I'd really go for a minimum of 3 days, better yet- two lots of 3, so you get 6 consecutive days in total.

1 Day - to give your digestion a break and boost pH levels - £69

2 Days - for a system reboot and an all organ spring clean - £135

3 Days - acid toxin release and a clean, slim, alkaline start - £199  

Happy detoxing!

On 28th July 2014, the sunniest of all sunny days, we opened the doors to Tanya’s flagship raw food restaurant and Europe’s first ever superfood cocktail bar in the heart of Chelsea London.

On exactly this date two years later, we want to get together and celebrate this amazing achievement with you guys!

As always, we will be celebrating in style with a beautiful Superfood SupperClub…

This time, we have a very VERY special guest flying over from the Food Matters Headquarters in Australia to join us on the night! It’s a real privilege to have James Colquhoun host an epic Q&A session on ‘The Future of Wellness’, so needless to say, this SupperClub evening will be a one-off event. Told you it’s a special one!

Reserve your spot on EventBrite>>

You will be welcomed with a floral summer cocktail, a probiotic appetiser of kombucha’ish soup with cultured seed cream, a protein starter of satay seaweed salad, a vibrant luxury raw food pizza for a main, a trio of the most decadent desserts, complemented by a nourishing digestive tea. For those wishing to make the most of the celebrations, we will be offering 2 for 1 cocktails, so come thirsty!

And if all that isn’t already special enough, you will be dining on the most comfortable of cushioned chairs and lowered bespoke solid wood tables, because Tanya’s is getting a make-over and you will be the first to see it!

Tickets are just £60pp or £110 for two. Seats are super limited. No refunds available.
7pm-9pm, Thursday 28th July 2016.
Held at Tanya’s inside MY Chelsea, London SW3 3QX.

Reserve your spot on EventBrite>>

About James

James Colquhoun, filmmaker of Food Matters and Hungry For Change and founder of FMTV. Along with Laurentine ten Bosch, James founded Food Matters, giving people the tools (films, books, website, TV) to take charge of their own health. Food Matters is an internationally acclaimed widely popular documentary about the medical and healthcare industries. His latest documentary, Hungry For Change, reveals how the diet and processed food industries are the enemies of permanent weight loss, vibrant health, and natural living. From here, FMTV was born! A place where we can access vital information by watching all of your favorite inspiring documentaries, expert interviews & recipe videos in one place.

About Tanya

Tanya Maher is the founder of the ultimate wellness company BetterRaw.com, co-founder of a high-end gourmet raw café chain TanyasCafe.com, creator of the Amazon #1 best selling DVD ‘Raw Food 101’ and author of Hay House’s ‘The Uncook Book’. Born in Russia, raised in New Zealand and now pioneering the clean eating movement in the UK, Tanya has been hailed as one of most recognised experts in the world of raw food and the UK’s top wellness coach, by the likes of Vogue, Daily Mail and Women’s Health.

A super exciting event series launching at Tanya’s Raw Food Restaurant, are our first ever Nutrition Talks, where a panel of world class experts will reveal their top secrets, tips and techniques for ultimate health.

The first in series will focus on detox and how to do it safely, effectively and with the least amount of symptoms possible.

Hear from Inner Me’s Nikki Cooper on detox and supplementation, Bodyism’s James Duigan on detox via movement and nutritionist Eve Kalinik on mindful detox.

Tanya’s welcome green juice and organic canapés will be awaiting your arrival too!

Nutrition Talks in more detail…

After a diagnosis of MS at the age of 28, Nikki Cooper threw herself into the wonderful world of health, wellbeing and supplements and Inner Me was born. Its first commercial products – Pro Beauty, Pro Hair and Energise Me- were stocked in Harvey Nichols, Selfridges, Whole Foods and Boots, within just four months of their launch.

Nikki knows first hand that even with great diet, many of us are short of essential vitamins and minerals, so she will be revealing her findings on what supplements best support a healthy detox and cleanse.

James Duigan is the founder of Bodyism, one of the most exclusive wellness companies in the world, which offers bespoke personal training, supplements, clothing and five best-selling Clean & Lean books. He’s helped sculpt some of the best bodies in the business, including models Lara Stone, Rosie Huntington-Whiteley and Elle Macpherson.

Proper mindful movement will supply a cleanse for your system, rather than cause injury and toxicity. There’s no one better than James to speak to you about intelligent movement and not punishing your body, as well as what it takes to create flow, rather than inflammation and pain.

Eve Kalinik is a qualified nutritionist, whose clients will travel any distance just to get her advice. Her individual client programs are based around eating habits that produce positive and long lasting changes for them holistically and she even has a popular column in the multi-award winning Psychologies magazine.

Eve believes that detoxing isn’t just about the body but is equally important for the mind too. Hear her top tips on using mindfulness techniques to get you better connected to your food and your body.